The G.O.P. Tax Plan Can Be Confusing. Here’s Help Deciphering It.

The Republican tax plan would have far-reaching effects on virtually every American, but it’s fair to say tax policy is not the easiest subject to follow.

If you haven’t kept up with the story as much as you feel you should have, or if you’re wondering where to focus your attention, we hope this collection of our explanatory reporting will help. No economics degree is necessary.

A job fair in Atlanta last year. While Republicans promote their tax plan as a way to encourage job growth and economic expansion, its constraints on state and local taxation could restrict spending on health care, education, transportation and social services.CreditBob Andres/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, via Associated Press

The plan would affect not just how much money is in your tax return. Here’s a look at the vast range of areas it could change, including education, health care, public transportation and social services.

Be wary of descriptions of the tax plan’s effects that refer to a “typical” American family. This graphic shows the staggering diversity in circumstances of American taxpayers, and how each of their tax situations would be different.

Alexia Manon Senior says she would not drop her health insurance even if the Affordable Care Act’s so-called individual mandate were repealed.CreditScott McIntyre for The New York Times

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that repealing the insurance mandate would result in nearly 13 million fewer people with insurance. If people choose to go without insurance, the government would no longer need to pay billions of dollars to subsidize their plans, and Republicans are counting on those savings to help pay for the tax cuts. But it’s not clear how much money would actually be saved.

From left, Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Orrin G. Hatch, the chairman of the committee, during a markup of the Senate tax proposal on Wednesday.CreditEric Thayer for The New York Times

The plan’s top objective appears to be giving corporations deep and lasting cuts. Central to the approach is the fundamental Republican belief that the cuts would translate to wage growth and jobs for Americans of all income levels.

A demonstration last week that was organized by groups that included the Communications Workers of America. That union has urged companies to pledge to raise wages if a tax cut is enacted.CreditChip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Mr. Trump said the typical American would see $4,000 more in wages from a corporate tax cut, but labor groups are concerned the money would go to executives and shareholders instead of workers.